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EAR 834P + Bent Audio Stepups = greatness?

I have an EAR 834P unmodified and am constantly reading how this amp is certainly one to be on the short list of anyone who wants a decent entry level phono. I have the deluxe version so it can handle low MC carts. When modified, many claim this unit is exceptional competing with units well past its price point. My question, if paired with exceptional step ups from Bent Audio, would the EAR perform in the same league as higher end units? The EAR has a very short signal path, is very simple so there shouldn't be much to lose from the cartridge to the main amp save for problems with the decent but not wonderful internal step ups. throwing in some of the world's best into the chain, would I see a world of difference or would money be better spent on a new phono outright? By that I mean, should I modify the unit and get the Mu's or would that $1600 or so paired with the 900-1000 I might get selling the EAR get me more on the used market?

Thank you in advance
zanth
sonofjim
557 posts
 
Dan'ed,
Your post above confuses me. Are you saying that $5000 won't come close to buying Raul's phono stage? What would the price be? Do you know? What do you mean by "out of your league"? I'm just curious about what he's come up with. I don't consider myself worthy of owning one or anything.
dan_ed
2,451 posts
 
Sonofjim, my comments were based on what I thought was your budget. I don't know exactly what Raul and Jose are selling the Essential for, but it is well north of $10K. Well north.
Sorry, I didn't mean you weren't somehow good enough to own it.
audiofeil
4,011 posts
 
$10K and significantly less buys some of the best phono stages in the world.

Lots of choices from established manufacturers with a proven history.

Saving you from the worry/hassle of reliability, service, and resale issues.
zanth OP
65 posts
 
Thanks for the responses guys. I think I will take your advice and instead of modifying and then buying step ups, I'll just save up and get another phono in the future.

My Koetsu has since been laid to rest (I'll retip in the future) and am presently using a Grado Statement Statement.
swampwalker's avatar
swampwalker
5,138 posts
 
From everything I have read and heard, the performance of step up transformers (SUTs) are VERY cartridge dependent. I have heard some very good ones, but if they work well with the cart you have now, its not clear if they will work with the cart you have X years from now. Performance is also highly sensitive to cart loading and so any SUT that could potentially be matched with more than cart should have easily adjustable and infinitely variable (i.e., not confined to discrete steps) resistance. YMMV.
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